Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-04-30

The tax question is one which is
now appealing with great force to
che consideration of the farmers of
the country, and which must be met
unless we are disposed to become
nation of bankrupts. For it is evi.
dent that whilst few are increasing
in wealth, which some years ago
would have been considered fabulous
in single case, yet it is fact that
the great mass Of the business men
of the country, and including those
who are considered the middle class
are in more difficult straits than they
have ever before experienced, whilst
the poor class, who pay no direct lax.
es, especially those engaged in me.
NAL and labor service, are really more
independent than others who are
considered of the higher classes, be.
ing ADLER to purchase the neceSSaries
of life at lower rates than was ever
before known, and, as general rule.
demanding higher wages and a less
amount of labor. Our savings banks
will prove this, where, from the diff.
Guilty in profitable investments, these
institutions have been obliged to re.
duce their rate of interest, and at
the same time have refused to re.
ceive large sums from those who
would prefer to deposit with them,
on account of the security from tue
dangers which are common in most
branches of business. And yet their
receipts from those for whose benefit
these Invaluable institutions were
originally intendeded, are reported
at an increase of millions OF dollars
and thousands of increased deposi.
tors.
This strange condition of things
should induce the general public to
inquire how it is said that such a
vast quantity, of property, both in
city and State, is being transferred,
and the immense amount Of money
is being invested in mortgages. The
advertising columns of our daily pa
pers in the city, the great number OF
houses to rent and for sale, beyond
any former period; and whilst the
owners are of late years subject to
many drawbacks, such as water tax
es, plumbing bills, stoves, &c, besides
the usual ground rents to which the
greater part of them, at least in the
city, are subject, the direct taxes
have been enormously increased
within the last eight or ten years,
until now, nearly one-third or more
of the net receipts from real estate
are devoted to the payment OF direct
taxes, although a considerable por.
ton OF 1T may be idle the whole year.
That there is something radically
wrong IN this state of things is APP
parent to all, and the time is now
approaching to consider as to the
best means of remedying the evils
complained of in the selection of our
future legislators, in order to secure
for such responsible positions men
who have something at stake in the
community, instead OF endorsing a
class who have no other object in
view than the expectancy of future
office.holding.
At the risk of being too prolix
upon the subject of taxation, we copy
from the Southern Planter paperon
4" Hard Times" which will show up
another branch Of the causes OF hard
times. The writer, who is a native
of New Hampshire. but now settled
in Virginia, says:
"For the privilege of squirting
tobacco juice and blowing smoke,
the people of virginia pay the In.
ternal Revenue Dept. at Wash
ington annually over one million
dollars, besides the manufactures
and dealers profit on the tobacco
and cigars. / would not like to make
an estimate of the amount snnnt for
sr'-ftNcaN aNefs, ilat ea
flg l59l .3ias the aheYe